Ineligible potatoes

Robin Oakley-Hill need have no concerns either for the expertise of Britain's Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment or for potential problems arising in his garden due to crossing between his potatoes and other members of the family Solanaceae (Letters, 10 October, p 54).

In a recent study published by the OECD, attempts to cross-cultivated potatoes with either Solanum nigrum or S. dulcamara produced no viable seeds or plants.

Embryo rescue resulted in hybrids which were found to be less vital, male-sterile, formed no tubers and showed less female fertility. After pollination (backcross) no viable seeds were formed.

The recent statement from the Royal Society (Genetically Modified Plants for Food Use, September 1998) also confirms that potatoes have no sexually compatible wild relatives in Britain.

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